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The National Public Health Agency (NPHA) has launched a major national effort aimed at reaching more than 12,000 young people and adults in Freetown as part of a renewed fight against HIV, through the Sierra Leone Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (SILPHIA 2026).
The initiative was officially launched during a seven-day Training of Trainers workshop held from January 13 to 20 at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown. The workshop brought together public health professionals and field leaders who will play a key role in implementing the nationwide HIV survey.
According to NPHA, SILPHIA 2026 is designed to generate high-quality, locally relevant data on HIV to strengthen Sierra Leone’s response to the epidemic. The survey will focus on Western Area Urban and Western Area Rural, covering Freetown and surrounding communities, with particular attention to young people who remain among the most vulnerable groups.
NPHA is serving as the Principal Investigator for the survey, with technical and operational support from ICAP at Columbia University. The assessment will measure HIV prevalence, viral load suppression, CD4 counts, and access to HIV care and treatment. It will also collect behavioural and biomarker data from more than 12,000 participants to better understand gaps in prevention and treatment services.
Health officials say the data gathered through SILPHIA 2026 will help guide national HIV policies and programs, ensuring resources are directed where they are most needed, especially among youths and young adults in urban and peri-urban communities.
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation described the survey as a critical step toward evidence-based decision-making. The initiative was made possible through the leadership of the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby, whose advocacy helped mobilize national and international partnerships to support the survey.
Public health experts at the workshop noted that SILPHIA 2026 goes beyond data collection, describing it as a turning point in Sierra Leone’s HIV response.
By combining science, community engagement, and national leadership, the survey is expected to support progress toward the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, which aim to ensure that 95 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed are on treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment achieve viral suppression.
NPHA officials say the findings from SILPHIA 2026 will provide a clear picture of the HIV situation in Freetown and help shape future interventions targeted at young people, with the ultimate goal of reducing new infections and ending the HIV epidemic in Sierra Leone.
